Dispensing hopper

ABSTRACT

A foldable, easily assembled dispensing hopper construction fabricated from cardboard. The hopper is assembled from a foldable blank provided with fold lines defining generally triangular panels, which form an inverted pyramidal hopper configuration. One hopper panel is cut and folded to form a lower dispensing opening which functions in cooperation with movable flap means to dispense free flowing materials from the hopper. Suitable biasing means (c.g.a. rubber band) hold the flap means in a normally closed position. In one principal embodiment, the flap means is an integral part of the panel forming the dispensing opening. In another embodiment the flap means comprises a separate member.

nit ed States Patent 91 Fuss [451 May 29,1973

[73] Assignee: Free-Flowing Packaging Corporation, Redwood City, Calif.

[22] Filed: July 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 165,034

[52] US. Cl. ..229/17 B, 222/571, 229/22, 206/DIG. 6 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 5/72 [58] Field of Search ..206/D1G. 6, 56 R; 229/7 R, 17 B, 17 M, 22; 222/444, 461, 462, 463, 517, 556; 141/331, 337

Hennessey ..229/17 B X Waldrum ..222/517 X Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Larry Martin Att0meyFlehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert 57 ABSTRACT A foldable, easily assembled dispensing hopper construction fabricated from cardboard. The hopper is assembled from a foldable blank provided with fold lines defining generally triangular panels, which form an inverted pyramidal hopper configuration. One hopper panel is cut and folded to form a lower dispensing opening which functions in cooperation with movable flap means to dispense free flowing materials from the hopper. Suitable biasing means (c.g.a. rubber band) hold the flap means in a normally closed position. In one principal embodiment, the flap means is an integral part of the panel forming the dispensing opening. In another embodiment the flap means comprises a separate member.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures atented May 29, 1973 4 ts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR, 601v? 6 Fuis;

Patented May 29, 1973 3,735,915

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla. 3

INVENTORL u/vrae 6. F055 Patented May 29, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mum;

DISPENSING HOPPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to dispensing hoppers, and more particularly to light weight, inexpensive easily assembled dispensing hoppers for use in the rapid selective distribution of light weight sub-divided materials, such as cushioning and packaging materials.

The dispensing hopper of the present invention has particular application in the selective distribution of free flowing cushioning and packaging materials of the type disclosed, for example, in U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,074,543 and 3,481,455. Cushioning and packaging materials of the type disclosed in these patents possess a desirable characteristic of flowability which permits a predetermined mass of the packaging materials to be flowed or poured into the confines of a shipping carton, as it is being packed, to thereby rapidly isolate the packed item from the sides of the carton.

Problems are presented in the use of such materials in packaging operations due to their extreme light weight and the difficulty of delivering predetermined amounts of such materials to a particular packaging or filling operation. Moreover, as inexperienced or unskilled labor is frequently employed in packaging operations of the type described, the machinery to effect or to assist in the packaging operation must not be unduly complicated or expensive. Further problems arise because of the difficulty of assembling dispensing mechanisms at widely dispersed points in plant, warehouse,

department store or like packing and shipping operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS In general, the present invention is based on a provision of a dispensing hopper, initially in blank or knocked-down form, which may be easily and quickly folded, assembled and employed in the dispensing of sub-divided materials. More specifically, the dispensing hopper of the present invention is formed of sheet material folded along longitudinal fold lines which form generally triangular panels of an inverted pyramidal container or hopper. According to the invention, one of said panels is provided with a transverse fold line adjacent a lower portion thereof for forming a dispensing opening below and an inverted truncated triangular panel above. A second panel is positioned in opposing planar relation with respect to the panel described, and cooperates with remaining triangular panels to form the hopper configuration. The hopper is completed by movable flap means pivotally mounted adjacent the dispensing opening for movements between a material restraining position and an open, material dispensing position. In one embodiment of the invention, the flap means forms an integral part of the truncated triangular panel and forms 'its own dispensing opening upon being pulled outwardly to a dispensing position. Biasing means engaging the flap means and the opposed triangular panel normally hold the flap means in closed position. In another embodiment of the invention, the flap means is separate, but biased to a position to hold and restrain the sub-divided materials, so as to prevent their pouring out the dispensing opening.

It is a general object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a light weight inexpensive foldable hopper construction, fabricated from cardboard or like sheet material, which can be easily operated in a dispensing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive, highly effective dispensing hopper for the rapid dispensing of free flowing packaging and cushioning materials and like sub-divided materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing hopper of the character described, which can be rapidly and easily fabricated on the site by a single operator and easily employed in dispensing operations such as factory, wholesale or retail packaging operations.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawmg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view in plan of a foldable blank useful in forming a dispensing hopper in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective showing the dispensing hopper of the invention, as assembled from the blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in top plan of the dispensing hopper of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail view in side elevation, with parts broken away, illustrating the operation of the dispensing flap means.

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of another embodiment of the dispensing hopper of the invention, addi tionally showing means for mounting the same.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 5, taken from the right side thereof.

FIG. 7 is a view section along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a detail view, in plan, of dispensing flap means useful with the dispensing hopper of FIGS. 5 through 7. I

FIG. 9 is a view in perspective illustrating a particular use of a dispensing hopper of the invention, in conjunction with a prepackaged unit of sub-divided materials to be dispensed.

FIG. 10 is a like view, on a reduced scale, illustrating the technique of opening the prepackaging for dispensing purposes.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, like FIG. 9, illustrating a further use of the dispensing hopper of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, the dispensing hopper of the invention can be fabricated from a single unitary foldable member such as the blank 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. This blank is of precut configuration, and is provided with a plurality of longitudinal lines of weakness or fold lines 12 which permit the blank to be folded into a container of inverted pyramidal configuration and generally polygonal cross-section. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the blank can be folded to form a container or hopper having generally triangular front and rear panels 14 and 16 and end panels 18. Preferably the blank 10 is provided with an attachment strip or extension 20 along one longitudinal edge to facilitate the fabrication of the blank into the hopper configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, the strip 20 is stapled to the adjacent edge 22 of the front panel 14, as represented by the staples 24 in FIGS. 2 and 3. Other fastening means such as a glue strip, interlocking incisions or combinations of these with staples, etc., could also be employed.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the fold lines 12 divide the assembled hopper into a plurality of inverted triangular panels which generally determine the final configuration of the dispensing hopper. Thus as particularly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front and rear panels l4, 16 may have a relatively greater lateral dimension than the segmented end panels 18. The dimension of the rear panel 16 facilitates attachment of the hopper directly to a support or, as hereinafter described, enables the attachment of support means in parallel relation to the opposing panels 14 and 16. In any event, the hopper is constructed to be mounted above a packaging or filling operation wherein free flowing packaging materials or other sub-divided materials are dispensed from the lower end of the hopper.

It is a feature of the invention that the front panel 14 is provided with a dispensing opening in a lower region of convergence of the fold lines 12. This is most easily accomplished by providing a transverse fold line 26 at an inner or lower position of the front panel in conjunction with severing cuts or lines of separation 28 and 30, between the front panel 14 and the adjacent panels 18 and 16. As will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 4, the severing cuts 28, 30 and the fold line 26 cooperate to form flap means 32 which, in this instance, are an integral part of the front panel 14. By additionally providing a transverse fold line 34, the lower portion of the flap means may be formed into a pull tab 36, as more particularly shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The severing cut 30 also provides the rear panel 16 with a lower transverse edge 30a in registry with the fold line 34 of the front panel. The resulting truncated triangular configuration of rear panel facilitates ready access to the pull tab of the flap means, as particularly shown in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, pulling the tab 36 and associated flap means 32 in an outward direction will cause the contents of the hopper to be dispensed in a downward direction, as generally represented by the arrows 38. This dispensing operation occurs through the dispensing opening generally represented at 39 in FIG. 4. It will be appreciated that this dispensing opening is formed in the front panel 14 by the transverse fold line 26 of such panel, the edges 28 and 29 of the adjacent panels 18, and the transverse lower edge 30:: of the rear panel 16 (see FIGS. 1 and 4).

To avoid a dispensing operation, except on demand, biasing means 40 are provided to normally hold the flap means in a closed restraining position as respects the dispensing opening 39. While any suitable biasing means may be employed, I found that a common rubber band or similar resilient elastic means engaged within recesses or slots 42 formed at the point of intersection of the panel 16 with the end panels 18, and extending about the bottom of the container to engage the flap means 32, is most satisfactory. The placement of a rubber band or similar biasing means in such fashion, is particularly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

It will be understood that the foldable blank may be separately packaged and forwarded individually, or in the alternative, packed in a box or case with the free flowing, sub-divided materials to be dispensed (viz.,

foamed expanded cushioning and packaging materials). On receipt, the blank 10 is folded and assembled by means of the fastening means 24 to form the hopper configuration of FIG. 2. The assembled dispensing hopper is then mounted in suitable fashion, for example, in vertical position above a carton filling operation, and filled with a quantity of expanded foamed packaging units or other sub-divided materials to be dispensed. The dispensing operation is then easily accomplished by grasping the pull tab to retract the flap means 32 against the restraining pressure of the biasing means 40. The flap means is held open for a period of time sufficient to dispense a desired quantity of the packaging materials into the carton, and then released to close the dispensing opening and retain the remaining quantity of packaging material within the hopper. By way of illustration such operation might be carried out in a department store in conjunction with the packaging of merchandise for shipment to customers, or alternatively, in a warehouse for purposes of packaging large quantities of the packaging material to remote distribution outlets.

In general, it has been found that the described hopper construction, formed of corrugated cardboard, muIti-ply fiber board or other relatively heavy fiber board construction, will provide just the right amount of resiliency to the flap means 32 to insure proper dispensing of light weight, free flowing packaging materials or similar sub-divided materials. Thus, from a purely practical point of view, the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 not only is easily and inexpensively fabricated, but also is easily and rapidly assembled at the point of use. Thereafter it may be employed in repeated dispensing operations, without any appreciable decrease in the efficiency of the dispensing flap means 32. Moreover, when each dispensing operation has been completed, the flap means 32 returns easily to the closed position through pressure of the biasing means 40.

FIGS. 5 through 7 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention wherein the dispensing flap means, represented at 42, is formed as a separate unit. Thus, as best illustrated in FIG. 8, the flap means 42 is di-cut and provided with fold lines to provide a separate unitary member having an attachment extension 44, and a flap portion pivotally movable with respect thereto about a transverse fold line 45. As illustrated, the flap portion includes upwardly foldable side panel portions 46 on either side of fold lines 48, and a central panel portion 50. The side panel portions are further provided with recesses or notches 52 to receive a rubber band or other biasing means 54, as hereinafter described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, the hopper 56 can be fabricated substantially as previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4, that is, to provide front and rear panels 14 and 16, and end panels 18. In this case, however, the end panels are not folded about the intermediate fold line 12, thereby to permit the attachment of parallels side support means, to the side panels 18, as generally represented at 60. The side support means 60 may be wooden or metal supports, and may be slidingly received in folded (viz. doubledover) guides 62 of cardboard or other suitable material, which may be stapled or otherwise secured to the side panels, for example as at 64. It will be understood that the guide means 62 are easily fabricated from rectangular units suitably provided with longitudinal fold lines 66 at appropriately spaced positions.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7, the flap means 42 is secured to the hopper by staples or other attachment means 70, which attach the extension 44 of the flap means to the rear panel 16 of the hopper. The

side panel portions 46 of the flap means can then be folded upwardly into engagement with the side panels 18 of the hopper, and held in such position by positioning biasing means about the bottom of the hopper, within the flap recesses 52, and in engagement with the hopper panels 16, 18 and the flap extension 44. Such positioning of a rubber band or like biasing means 54 is best illustrated in FIG. 5. As will be apparent from the full and dotted line positions in this figure, the flap means 52 can be easily depressed from the closed position (full lines) to a dispensing position (dotted lines) to permit a dispensing or filling operation in the direction of the arrows 72.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 8, a dispensing opening 73 is formed by folding lower portions of the front panel 14 upwardly about the transverse fold line 26 to a flush secured position against the upper wall portions of the panel 14. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, the lower panel portion 32a may be securely fastened to the upper portions of the panel 14 by staples or other appropriate fastening means 74.

Once the dispensing hopper 56 has been assembled, and the attachment means 62 secured to its sides, it may be easily mounted by means of the support members 60 on any suitable support (represented in FIG. 5 by the dotted lines 76). Such support might be a shelf, table, pedestal or any other support readily available in the dispensing area.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11, the dispensing hopper of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with sub-divided materials in prepackaged form. Thus, the bag 80 represents a prepackaged quantity of sub-divided material to be dispensed, such as free flowing cushioning and packaging materials of the type referred to in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,074,543 and 3,481,455. Such materials can be conveniently packaged for shipment in relatively large containers (i.e., ten cubic feet) formed of compliant plastic, paper, cloth, or other suitable construction. Such bags are easily filled with a quantity of the cushioning and packaging materials, in plant operation and shipped to the point of use in warehouse, department store or the like, packing and shipping operations. To facilitate dispensing of the contents of the bag 80 through the dispensing hopper, the bag is provided with a cross cut at a desired location on its outer surface to provide an opening 82, for example as shown in FIG. 10. Since the bag and its contents are light in weight, the cross cut is easily made with any suitable means and the bag inverted above'the dispensing hopper to fill the same with material to be dispensed. It will be appreciated that an opening 82 can be provided in the side of the bag, as in FIG. 10, or at one end of the bag, as represented in FIG. 11, in either event, the contents of the bag empty through the opening 82 into the container portion of the hopper. Dispensing operations are thereafter easily accomplished by pulling the flap means 32 in an outward direction, against the restraining pressure of the biasing means 40, in the manner previously described.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the unique foldable construction of the dispensing hopper of the invention makes possible the use of a simple, easily fabricated blank in the production of a convenient, readily assembled, light weight dispensing hopper for free flowing packaging and like subdivided materials. The final dispensing hopper, as easily fabricated for use at the site, possesses many advantages: it is relatively strong and durable yet light in weight so as to be easily mounted or supported above a packaging operation; it provides an easily operable, uniquely satisfactory dispensing flap means which functions effectively through use of a simple resilient elastic biasing means such as a rubber band; it permits the rapid dispensing of free flowing materials by operation of gravity, at each manipulation of the dispensing flap means. The fibreboard construction also makes possible the easy attachment of support means for mounting the hopper in various otherwise inaccessible locations, to permit ready available use in dispensing operations. These and other advantages render the dispensing hopper of the invention particularly useful for the purpose stated.

I claim:

1. A dispensing hopper for subdivided free-flowing materials comprising an inverted pyramidal container of generally polygonal cross section, said container being formed from a substantially flat sheet material folded along longitudinal fold lines to define inverted generally triangular panels therebetween, one of said panels having a transverse fold line forming an inverted truncated triangular portion thereabove, and a generally triangular flap portion therebelow, said flap portion being further defined by severing cuts along the longitudinal fold lines on either side thereof to a point of intersection with said transverse fold line, and biasing means engaging at least one of said generally triangular panels and said movable flap portion to normally hold said flap portion in closed position in contact with opposed portions of said severing cuts, said flap portion being outwardly movable about said transverse fold line against the restraint of said biasing means to expose a generally triangular dispensing opening generally defined by said transverse fold line and said severing cuts.

2. A dispensing hopper as in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises resilient elastic means engaging recesses formed in both said container and said movable flap portion.

3. In a system for dispensing subdivided free-flowing materials, the combination of a dispensing hopper mounted in self-supporting relation with a flexible container for said subdivided free-flowing material, said dispensing hopper being of generally inverted pyramidal configuration and polygonal cross section, said dispensing hopper being formed of sheet material folded along longitudinal fold lines defining inverted generally triangular panels therebetween, one of said panels being provided with a dispensing opening in a lower portion thereof, movable flap means pivotally mounted adjacent said dispensing opening for movement from a substantially closed material restraining position to a substantially open material dispensing position as respects said dispensing opening, said flap means also being formed of sheet material, and biasing means engaging both said movable flap means and lower portions of said container to normally hold said movable flap means in the closed restraining position, said container of subdivided free-flowing material being supported above and upon the inverted pyramidal configuration of said dispensing hopper, said container being provided with an opening on the lower side thereof to facilitate emptying of the contents of the container into the dispensing hopper, whereby said movable flap means can be moved on demand to said substantially open material dispensing position.

4. A system for dispensing subdivided free-flowing materials as in claim 3 wherein said opening in the lower side of said container is formed by cross cuts through the material forming the lower wall of said container.

5. A dispensing hopper for subdivided free-flowing materials comprising an inverted pyramidal container of generally polygonal cross section, said container being formed from substantially flat sheet material folded along longitudinal fold lines to define inverted generally triangular panels therebetween, one of said panels having an inverted truncated triangular configuration deflning with adjacent ones of said generally triangular panels a dispensing opening in a lower portion thereof, others of said panels being positioned in opposed planar relation with respect to said truncated triangular panel, flap means separately formed from sheet material including relatively movable attachment and flap portions and pivotally mounted to the lower portions of at least one of the triangular panels other than said truncated one adjacent said dispensing opening for movement from a substantially closed material restraining position to a substantially open material dispensing position as respects said dispensing opening, and biasing means engaging both said flap means and at least one of said generally triangular panels to normally hold said flap means in the closed restraining position in contact with said adjacent generally triangular panels. 

1. A dispensing hopper for subdivided free-flowing materials comprising an inverted pyramidal container of generally polygonal cross section, said container being formed from a substantially flat sheet material folded along longitudinal fold lines to define inverted generally triangular panels therebetween, one of said panels having a transverse fold line forming an inverted truncated triangular portion thereabove, and a generally triangular flap portion therebelow, said flap portion being further defined by severing cuts Along the longitudinal fold lines on either side thereof to a point of intersection with said transverse fold line, and biasing means engaging at least one of said generally triangular panels and said movable flap portion to normally hold said flap portion in closed position in contact with opposed portions of said severing cuts, said flap portion being outwardly movable about said transverse fold line against the restraint of said biasing means to expose a generally triangular dispensing opening generally defined by said transverse fold line and said severing cuts.
 2. A dispensing hopper as in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises resilient elastic means engaging recesses formed in both said container and said movable flap portion.
 3. In a system for dispensing subdivided free-flowing materials, the combination of a dispensing hopper mounted in self-supporting relation with a flexible container for said subdivided free-flowing material, said dispensing hopper being of generally inverted pyramidal configuration and polygonal cross section, said dispensing hopper being formed of sheet material folded along longitudinal fold lines defining inverted generally triangular panels therebetween, one of said panels being provided with a dispensing opening in a lower portion thereof, movable flap means pivotally mounted adjacent said dispensing opening for movement from a substantially closed material restraining position to a substantially open material dispensing position as respects said dispensing opening, said flap means also being formed of sheet material, and biasing means engaging both said movable flap means and lower portions of said container to normally hold said movable flap means in the closed restraining position, said container of subdivided free-flowing material being supported above and upon the inverted pyramidal configuration of said dispensing hopper, said container being provided with an opening on the lower side thereof to facilitate emptying of the contents of the container into the dispensing hopper, whereby said movable flap means can be moved on demand to said substantially open material dispensing position.
 4. A system for dispensing subdivided free-flowing materials as in claim 3 wherein said opening in the lower side of said container is formed by cross cuts through the material forming the lower wall of said container.
 5. A dispensing hopper for subdivided free-flowing materials comprising an inverted pyramidal container of generally polygonal cross section, said container being formed from substantially flat sheet material folded along longitudinal fold lines to define inverted generally triangular panels therebetween, one of said panels having an inverted truncated triangular configuration defining with adjacent ones of said generally triangular panels a dispensing opening in a lower portion thereof, others of said panels being positioned in opposed planar relation with respect to said truncated triangular panel, flap means separately formed from sheet material including relatively movable attachment and flap portions and pivotally mounted to the lower portions of at least one of the triangular panels other than said truncated one adjacent said dispensing opening for movement from a substantially closed material restraining position to a substantially open material dispensing position as respects said dispensing opening, and biasing means engaging both said flap means and at least one of said generally triangular panels to normally hold said flap means in the closed restraining position in contact with said adjacent generally triangular panels. 